A 1999 Nominee for the Helen Hayes Award—The Charles MacArthur Prize for Outstanding New Play

By Caleen Sinnette Jennings.

Cast: 3m., 3w.Playing Juliet. In this play-within-a-play, the New Vistas Theatre Company sets out to put on Romeo and Juliet with its multiracial cast. Wendy, the determined white director, has cast her long-time black friend, Georgia, in the role of Juliet. Georgia plays opposite Chris, the white son of a New Vistas board member. The nurse is played by Lorraine, a feisty black friend of Georgia's who has a secret yen for Chris. Dave, the stage manager, is the company's founding member and a seasoned Shakespearean actor who has serious concerns about the production. Tempers flair and friendships are strained when Jimmy, Georgia's maintenance-man boyfriend, tries to prevent her from playing Juliet. Issues of race, class, gender and nontraditional casting emerge as the Bard brings out surprising fears, animosities, love and laughter in this company of players. Casting Othello. Fresh from a hit production of Romeo and Juliet, New Vistas Theatre Company tackles Othello. Chris is directing. Dave is cast as Iago, Wendy as Desdemona, George as Emilia, and Lorraine as Bianca. But who will be cast as Othello? Jimmy, now married to the pregnant Georgia, has grown accustomed to working set crew and being a blocking stand-in for the lead. Despite his lack of training, Wendy thinks Jimmy could do Othello in performance. The atmosphere is charged as Georgia and Dave vigorously oppose this casting. Shakespeare's controversial tragedy is deconstructed as the actors' politics, loves and friendships are put on the line. May be done as a full length or each short play may be done independently as a one act. Approximate running time: 50 minutes each. One int. set.

Play details

Status:

In Stock

Type of show:

Full-Length

Catalog Code:

P86

Cast Size:

6

No. of Act(s):

1

Pages:

95

Royalty:

$80.00 /perf.*

Cost:

$9.95

Approx. Running Time:

100 min.

Categories

Target Audience:

High School | College and Adult

Performing Group:

College Theatre | Community Theatre | Stock & Lort

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Shakespeare

ISBN (10):

0871299240

Biographies

Caleen Sinnette Jennings is professor of theater at American University in Washington, D.C. She teaches acting, voice and speech, acting Shakespeare, playwriting and academic courses in theater. Jennings was a 2007 finalist for the O'Neill Playwright's Conference, and she is a two-time Helen Hayes nominee for Outstanding New Play. In 2002, she received the Heidman Award from Actor's Theatre of ...More

Rights & Availability

This title can be licensed/sold throughout the world * Please note that royalties quoted in our catalog are intended for K-12 schools with a standard curriculum only. All other producing groups must submit a completedapplication.